Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) closed the day down 21 percent, following the announcement that the company has successfully raised $40.7 million through a conditional placing of shares at a price of 32 pence per share, a 21 percent discount to the previous market close.

The shares were placed through Mirabaud Securities and Pareto Securities.

The company has also announced thats Non-Executive Chairman Simon Murray is to retire from the Board; Andrew Simon, Senior Independent Director, will assume the role of Interim Non-Executive Chairman with immediate effect.

Share in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP), operator of the Shaikan field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, gained 20 percent on Wednesday as the company announced that it has resumed production and truck loading operations at both its production facilities (PF-1 and -2), in line with the pre-payment of US$ 26 million gross (US$20.8 million net to Gulf Keystone) received for future Shaikan crude oil sales on 25 February.

Gulf Keystone will now ramp up production to levels consistent with the installed capacity of 40,000 barrels of oil per day. The Company anticipates that a further payment of a similar nature will be received, which is expected to stabilise a payment cycle for current and future Shaikan production.

Shaikan-10, the Company’s first development well and ninth producer, has demonstrated excellent productivity from the limited flow data gained to date. Drilled from the same surface location as Shaikan-10, but 2km away subsurface, Shaikan-11, an additional production well has now been completed.

Shaikan-11, which will provide PF-2 with additional production capacity, was drilled nine days ahead of time and under budget. The losses observed during drilling point to Shaikan-11 being a potentially prolific producer. Furthermore, Shaikan-8 is now fully connected and able to produce into PF-1.

“We are pleased to have resumed production and truck loading operations at Shaikan. Over recent weeks we have maintained a flexible and prudent approach, ensuring that we can maximise revenues from Shaikan. We remain confident of a regular payment cycle for Shaikan crude being established in the near term.

“From an operational perspective, Shaikan is performing well and we are encouraged by the initial results from Shaikan-10 and the recently completed Shaikan-11 well.”

“We are pleased to begin 2015 on the back of a positive end to last year, having achieved the Company’s record daily production and crude oil export sales rates from the Shaikan field.

2014 was not without its challenges for the Kurdistan Region and we are proud of what has been achieved against this backdrop, in particular a nearly 300% increase in Shaikan production and export sales since January 2014.

Our immediate focus is to ensure a stable daily production rate of 40,000 gross barrels of oil per day, which is a base for future production growth, whilst maintaining a regular payment cycle for Shaikan export oil sales by truck and to finalise a pipeline access solution for Shaikan.”

Shares on the company were down more than 5 percent on Monday morning.

Shares in Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) closed up more than 16 percent up on Tuesday, after the company issued an update on its operations at Shaikan, its key producing asset in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The shares had been languishing at new lows earlier in the week, having lost more than three-quarters of their value over the past two years.

The Company announced the completion of the installation of the flowlines to connect the Shaikan-7, -8, and -10 wells to the existing production facilities (“PF-1″ and “PF-2″).

The Shaikan-7 and -8 wells are now tied to PF-1 and Shaikan-10 to PF-2. The flowlines are currently being hydro-tested and first oil is expected to flow to the production facilities in December.

With the addition of the three new producers, the current total production levels of between 23,000 and 25,000 gross bopd will increase to 40,000 gross bopd.

An amine plant is currently being tested at PF-2, to be followed by the similar plant at PF-1 in early 2015. The amine plants will sweeten the associated gas stream, allowing it to be used as fuel for the production facilities instead of diesel, representing savings of up to US$400,000 per month to the project.

A rig package is moving to a location in the vicinity of Shaikan-10 in order to drill Shaikan-11, an additional producer. An 11 km flowline to tie this well to PF-2 has already been laid.

“Despite numerous challenges earlier this year, Gulf Keystone has completed the work on the three additional producers on time. We are now testing the flowline connections, including an 11 km link between Shaikan-10 and PF-2, and look forward to boosting Shaikan production to our near-term target of 40,000 bopd.

“I would like to thank our entire team in the Kurdistan Region, which today includes over 300 employees and contractors, for their effort and diligent delivery in the area of construction, production and crude oil export sales.”

UK Consul General Angus McKee visited Gulf Keystone‘s production facility at the Shaikan oil field on Wednesday, where he was given a tour by company officials.

He viewed the production processes, control room and loading of tankers for onward transportation.

Following the visit, McKee said:

“Kurdistan Region’s oil industry is a real success story, and it benefits from significant UK investment and know-how. Gulf Keystone is a UK-listed exploration and production company looking to expand its operations.

“As well as contributing to oil exports, it employs over 200 local staff, and takes social responsibility – including the current humanitarian crisis – seriously.

“Kurdistan Region’s operators draw significantly on British expertise. UK companies are active across the region, providing high-quality services, and next week’s Erbil Trade Fair will be a further opportunity to champion the British businesses operating here.

“Many oil industry professionals, including Kurds, have British degrees including from universities at the forefront of oil research such as Aberdeen. And the annual CWC Kurdistan Iraq Oil and Gas Conference will take place in London 16-18 December.

“The Consulate General in Erbil, including our UK Trade and Investment Team, work to strengthen these ties. The oil industry’s success is essential for the future development and prosperity of Kurdistan Region”

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) is an independent oil and gas exploration and production UK-listed company and a leading operator in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Commercial production and export crude oil sales have been ramping up from Shaikan, a the company’s flagship project, with two production facilities on track to produce 40,000 barrels of oil per day. In order to realise further multi-billion barrel resource potential, Gulf Keystone continues exploration, appraisal and early production operations on the Sheikh Adi, Ber Bahr and Akri-Bijeel blocks, all with discoveries.

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) has given an update this morning on its operations at Shaikan, its key producing asset. Shares in the company are up more than 70 percent from their low in October.

The Company is on track to complete all remaining work in order to achieve 40,000 gross barrels of oil per day (“bopd”) of production capacity from the Shaikan production facilities (“PF-1″ and “PF-2″) by the end of 2014.

The total production levels are stable, averaging 23,000 gross bopd from three wells at PF-1 and two wells at PF-2. The civil works are ongoing to connect the Shaikan-7 and -8 wells to PF-1. The trenching work has been completed on the 15 km connection between the Shaikan-10 well and PF-2 and the flowlines are currently being laid.

Shaikan crude oil exports by truck to the Turkish coast have continued uninterrupted since 29 November 2013. All of our production is currently being exported and nineteen tanker cargoes totalling 4.7 million gross barrels of Shaikan crude oil have been sold to the international market since the Shaikan crude oil export sales began from the port of Dortyol in January 2014.

The Company welcomes the announcement made by the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources on 7 November 2014 regarding the plan to make an initial payment of US$75 million on account to producers for exports in November 2014, with further payments to follow on a regular basis. The announcement can be viewed at http://mnr.krg.org/index.php/en/press-releases/422-update-on-oil-export-from-the-kurdistan-region-of-iraq.

The management team will host a conference call for analysts and investors at 11am UK time today. A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the Company’s website www.gulfkeystone.com.

John Gerstenlauer, Gulf Keystone’s Chief Executive Officer commented:

“Gulf Keystone’s production operations and export oil sales have continued uninterrupted in 2014. All current production is being exported by truck and these exports are set to increase in the coming months as we are nearing our production target of 40,000 bopd.

“As we stand by the Kurdistan Region and its people, we welcome the KRG’s commitment to putting in place a regular payment cycle for oil exports from the region. As our production increases, we look forward to receiving our full contractual entitlement.”

Sharess in Gulf Keystone Petroleum surged as much as 10 percent by lunchtime on Wednesday, after teh company issued an update on the its operations at Shaikan, its key producing asset:

The Company remains focused on achieving the target of 40,000 barrels of oil per day (“bopd”) of production capacity from the Shaikan production facilities (“PF-1″ and “PF-2″) in line with our Half Year Report schedule published on 28 August 2014. The Company’s staffing levels in the Kurdistan Region, including all key international contractors, returned to normal in the first half of September.

In the period since 28 August 2014, Shaikan PF-1 and PF-2 production has been achieving stable rates of approximately 23,000 gross bopd from three wells at PF-1 and two wells at PF-2. The work on the flowlines to connect additional production wells, Shaikan-7, -8 and -10 later in 2014 is on-going.

Trucking operations from PF-1 and PF-2 continue with approximately 70% of the current production trucked as export crude oil to the Turkish port of Dortyol and sold to the international market by Powertrans, an authorised transportation and marketing agent of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources (“KRG” and “MNR”).

Seventeen cargoes totalling approximately 4.0 million gross barrels of Shaikan crude oil have been sold to the international market since the Shaikan crude oil export sales began from Dortyol in January 2014.

As previously announced, constructive discussions surrounding a payment cycle for past and future Shaikan export crude oil sales are progressing with the MNR, while the Company is awaiting further payments for export sales.

Approximately 30% of the current Shaikan production is being sold to domestic buyers in the Kurdistan Region. Since the publication of the Half Year Report, the domestic market has been providing steady revenue with approximately 220,000 barrels gross sold since 28 August 2014 generating US$9.4 million in gross revenues. The cash receipts associated with these sales as at 30 September were US$5.9 million.

The Company’s Q3 2014 Interim Management Statement will be published on 30 October 2014.

Gulf Keystone (pictured: CEO John Gerstenlauer) an independent oil and gas exploration, development and production company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (“Kurdistan Region”), today announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2014.

Operational highlights

· Gulf Keystone’s operations in the Kurdistan Region remain secure and production and crude oil sales from the Shaikan field have not been interrupted in any material way

· Ramp-up of Shaikan production in H1 2014 from 10,000 gross barrels of oil per day (“bopd”) to rates of in excess of 20,000 gross bopd through the tie-in of an additional producing well to Shaikan PF-1 and the commencement of production operations from Shaikan PF-2

· Crude oil export deliveries by truck to Turkey in H1 2014 totalled 2.2 million barrels gross with total gross production from Shaikan to date fast approaching 5.5 million barrels

· Initial payments for the export crude oil sales received with the realised price at the Shaikan facility estimated as US$51-56/bbl. Through an ongoing dialogue with the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Regional Government (“MNR” and “KRG”), the Company is seeking to establish a regular payment cycle for past and future Shaikan crude oil export sales

· Gross domestic sales for H1 2014 of 0.1 million barrels with a realised price of US$42/bbl

· Agreement of the Field Development Plan (“FDP”) for the Akri-Bijeel Block by the MNR in August with production from the Bijell and Bakrman discovery areas expected by MOL Kalegran Limited, the operator, to reach 35,000 gross bopd in 2015

· Net proceeds of US$240 million raised from the issue of debt securities and associated warrants in April 2014

· Cash and cash equivalents at 26 August 2014 of US$177 million

Outlook

· Company continues to target 40,000 bopd of Shaikan production by year end through the tie-in of three additional producing wells (Shaikan-7, -8 and -10), although certain consequences of the recent security situation, including the current short term limited availability of some international contractors, may cause this to move to Q1 2015

· Conclude discussions with the MNR on the establishment of a regular and predictable payment cycle for past and future Shaikan crude oil export sales in order to generate steady revenues, which is of critical importance to Gulf Keystone’s funding position

· Manage expenditure in a responsible and prudent manner, continuing to review and control capital commitments. Once a steady flow of revenues has been established, make decisions on investment in additional production facilities, development wells and infrastructure in order to increase Shaikan production in line with the approved Shaikan Field Development Plan

· Continue to review options regarding the Company’s 20% working interest in the Akri-Bijeel Block and explore other funding options available

· Complete the appraisal of the Sheikh Adi discovery, submit the appraisal report and make a decision regarding early production and development

Simon Murray, Non-Executive Chairman of Gulf Keystone, said:

“Despite the recent security crisis in Iraq, which clearly affected the lives of many people in the Kurdistan Region and refugees from elsewhere in Iraq, I strongly believe that Gulf Keystone’s footprint as one of the key oil producers in this strategically important area is assured. With the continued support of the Ministry of Natural Resources, we are positive about increasing our production to the stated goal of 40,000 bopd, receiving payment for all entitlement barrels produced to date and entering a new phase of value generation.”

“Our operations in the Kurdistan Region, where we have been present since 2007, are progressing well with the two existing Shaikan production facilities producing in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 bopd and crude oil export deliveries continuing essentially uninterrupted since late November 2013 to date. We are currently discussing with our hosts and stakeholders in the Kurdistan Region the plan for monetizing all past and future Shaikan production through achieving a stable payment cycle to progress in line with the approved Shaikan Field Development Plan.”